Sulzers A-plenty

Moving, now, to the southern end of the railway, we see three Sulzer Type 2's at Petersfield station.

As with the Hydraulics and Class 37s, all of these locos are fitted with sound decoders but only the Class 25 has been weathered.

The locos are, from left to right:

Class 24 D5040 in BR Green Livery
She has just arrived at Platform 1 with a train of ventilated vans.
Produced by Sutton Loco Works in 2019. Catalogue Nº: 2407.

Class 25 25248 (Ex 25245) in BR Blue Livery
Arriving at Platform 2 with a local passenger service.
Produced by Bachmann in 2009. Catalogue Nº: 32-326DS

Class 24 24081 in BR Blue Livery
Standing at Platform 3 with a semi-fast.
Produced by Sutton Loco Works in 2016. Catalogue Nº: 2402.

In the background we can also see Class 07 (07010) shunting a couple of wagons in the Brewery.

This loco is by Heljan and is Catalogue Nº 29031.

The two Class 24s, by the way, are fitted with the SLW sound files and, I believe, twin speakers. The sound from these two locos is quite amazing.

The Class 25, meanwhile, came with Bachmann's own sound files fitted but we have had this one reblown with Howes sound files.

Tractors in Abundance

Following on from my 'Hydraulics Times Six' posting, the other day, I thought I would feature the four English Electric Class 37s that we currently have in our fleet.

Therefore, in the photograph above, we can see the four 'tractors' at Davemoor, our northern terminus.

As with the hydraulic locos, all of the Class 37s have sound decoders fitted. 

Two of them (057 & 251) have also been weathered while the other two, which are more recent acquisitions, are still in pristine condition but will be weathered eventually.

From the top of the picture they are as follows:

37057 'Viking' in BR Large Logo Livery
Standing at Platform 1 having arrived with a local passenger service.
Produced by Bachmann in 2007 - Catalogue Nº: 32-781DS.

37116 in BR Blue Special Livery
Arriving at Platform 2 with a parcels train.
Produced by Bachmann in 2018 - Catalogue Nº: 32-781SD.
This model is a Special Sales Area Exclusive.

37251 in BR Blue Livery & Domino Headcode
Awaiting departure from Platform 3 with an express.
Produced by Bachmann in 2011 - Catalogue Nº: 32-781.

37506 in Railfreight Red Stripe Livery & Thornaby Depot Motif
Standing at Platform 4, probably at the head of a goods train.
Produced by Bachmann in 2011 - Catalogue Nº: 32-387.

Ale By Rail

So, from a previous abundance of trains at Gunnmere, to just one this time!

In this photograph we see North British (NBL) Type 1, later known as Class 16 under the TOPS classification system, at the head of our complete rake of Oakhill Brewery wagons that were commissioned by the Burnham & District Model Railway Club.

Eight Oakhill Brewery wagons were produced by the Club with two differently numbered tank wagons, two differently numbered ventilated vans and two differently numbered ale wagons. 

One Fruit 'D' van was also produced, of which we have two, plus a Grain Hopper wagon and the hope is to add one more of the Hoppers but these are increasingly hard to find now.

The Class 16 is by Heljan, of course, and is Nº D8407, Catalogue Nº 1603 and is, I believe, a Limited Edition of only 750 models. 

It has been fitted with a sound decoder using the Howes sound files and, unlike its big sisters, does seem to perform quite well.

Hydraulics Times Six

In this panoramic view of a very busy Gunnmere Junction we see all six of our diesel hydraulics in a single photograph.

All of the locos have had DCC sound decoders fitted and three of them (Classes 22, 35 & 42) have been weathered subsequent to purchase. The other three are still in pristine condition but will probably be weathered in due course.

From left to right they are, in TOPS number order:

Class 22 'Baby Warship' D6319.
At the head of a short rake of ventilated vans.
Produced by Dapol in 2011 - Catalogue Nº: D1000d.

Class 35 'Hymek' D7035
In charge of some milk tankers.
Produced by Heljan in 2004 - Catalogue Nº: 3508.

Class 41 'Warship' D603 'Conquest'
With a train of vee tanks.
Produced by Kernow in 2019 - Catalogue Nº: K2603.

Class 42 'Warship' 812 'Royal Naval Reserve'
Standing at Platform 4 with a local passenger service.
Produced by Bachmann in 2010 - Catalogue Nº: 32-061

Class 43 'Warship' D865 'Zealous'
Arriving at Platform 3 with a matching rake of maroon coaches.
Produced by Bachmann in 2013 - Catalogue Nº: 32-065

Class 52 'Western' 1067 'Western Druid'
Arriving at Platform 2 with an express.
Produced by Heljan in 2004 - Catalogue Nº: 5202.

Weymouth Harbour Tramway

Having recently been sorting through some of my old photographs and 35 mm transparencies, I came across these pictures of unidentified Class 33s on Boat Train Services along the Weymouth Harbour Tramway.

Admittedly the quality is definitely not the best but, with the Department for Transport having recently awarded £1.1 million for the removal of the track along the entire 1.25 mile route, these seem to be a fitting tribute to a unique stretch of line, which was opened on the 1 July 1989.

The line saw regular scheduled boat train services until these ceased on 26 September 1987, with goods facilities having been withdrawn earlier, on 26 February 1972.

After the boat trains were withdrawn the line did see occasional, one-off charter trains, with the last one being on 2nd May 1999.

The two photos, below, were both taken on Sunday 29th June 1975 and show the same Waterloo-bound train, having just departed the Harbour Station

In the next photo we see a train  heading in the opposite direction, towards the Harbour station. 

This photo was taken on Tuesday 20th April 1976.

Unfortunately I have no record of the locomotive numbers and, as I say, the quality of these photographs is not good.

I think they were taken on a Kodak 126 film camera and my photographic skills do leave a lot to be desired but they do bring back fond memories of visiting Weymouth during the 1970s and seeing these trains wind their way, very slowly, through the streets.

By contrast below are a few photographs from 2nd May 1987 when, as part of the Somerset and Dorset Rambler special excursion, I took my one and only trip along the tramway.

In the first photo we see the train waiting to depart Templecombe station hauled, appropriately enough, by 33112 'Templecombe'.

The excursion celebrated the 125th anniversary of the founding of the Somerset and Dorset Railway.

The train started at Salisbury and, after Templecombe, I believe our route took us to Yeovil Junction, Yeovil Pen Mill, Westbury, Salisbury, Eastleigh, Southampton, Fawley, Bournemouth Central, Branksome, Parkstone, Poole, Dorchester South and Weymouth Harbour.

From Weymouth we returned to Yeovil Pen Mill, via Dorchester West, and thence to Yeovil Junction, Templecombe and Salisbury.

A memorable trip, indeed, and one never to be repeated - at least to Weymouth Harbour.

Now, below, are a few of the photos that I took from the train as it snaked its way to the Harbour station.

Quite clearly a Teddy Boy's Convention at this pub!

Waterloo to Exeter in the 1980s

Sorting through some of my old 35 mm slides recently, I came across some photographs that I took during the 1980s of trains, mostly hauled by Class 50, on the Waterloo to Exeter line.

So, I thought I would post some of the better ones on the blog, beginning with three photos of Class 50s at Waterloo.

In these three photos we see, from the top, 50003 'Temeraire' and 50050 'Fearless' at the buffer stops both having arrived with trains from Exeter St Davids.

While, in the third photo, 50037 'Illustrious' waits to depart with a train for Exeter.

In this photo we see an unidentified Class 50 about to enter Sandley Tunnel, between Templecombe and Gillingham, with an evening train for Waterloo.

Templecombe station before there was a footbridge, meaning all passengers had to enter and exit via the crossing, just behind the photographer.

Of course the far platform has recently been reinstated meaning that the platform pictured here is now closed to passengers.

While at Templecombe we see the naming ceremony of 33112 'Templecombe, which took place on a very wet day in November 1987. This loco was chosen to be so named because Templecombe is 112 miles from Waterloo.

In better weather we see an unidentified Class 47 departing Templecombe, and crossing over to the down line, with a train for Exeter.

With the sun still shining, we next see 50012 'Benbow' at Sutton Bingham, between Yeovil Junction and Crewkerne.

Down the 1 in 37 from Exeter Central and around the curve into Exeter St Davids station. Oh wouldn't it be nice to have loco hauled nine coach trains on this line now!

Finally we see 50043 'Eagle' at the northern (Paddington) end of Exeter St Davids.

Midsomer Norton Diesel Gala

This weekend (7th & 8th March) saw the Somerset and Dorset Railway Heritage Trust's Spring Diesel Gala at Midsomer Norton.

They had arranged for D5343, from the Gloucester Warwickshire Railway, to visit and, thereby, become the first Class 26 to travel along S&D metals. But, unfortunately, she sustained an engine fault and could not appear.

Obviously this was a shame but they still had their own diesel shunters in attendance, namely: 

Class 08 'D4095' and English Electric (ex-NCB) D1120 - although this latter loco also failed on the Sunday. 

Plus they had a visiting Class 03 shunter 'D2128'.

The photographs below were all taken on the Saturday, a cloudy but, thankfully, dry day.

A general view of the station, taken from Charlton Road.

A closer view of the main station building

The first train of the day (10:00 am) is waiting to depart.

The stable block, currently a museum but, one day perhaps, accommodation.

The resident Class 08 at the rear of the train at Platform 1.

Inside the recently acquired (from Swanage Railway) buffet coach.

Outside the same coach and looking along Platform 2.

D1120 and D2128 standing side by side.

The Class 03 is ready to depart.

She departs Platform 1 and commences her journey ...

... up the 1 in 53 ...

... ably assisted by the Class 08.

A view from the train.

The end of the line - for now!

And viewed from the other side of the train.

D1120 and D2128 double-head a departure ...

... with the Class 08 at the rear once more.

A short goods train, a milk tanker and buffet car stand at Platform 2.

Finally, here is a photograph that I took of the station in 1989.

Just goes to show what big difference 30 years and a lot of hard work can make!